Domestic violence is a serious issue in America and across the globe. Domestic violence is most associated with sexual assault, but it can also take the form of physical violence, verbal abuse, mental abuse, and forcing a partner to participate in sexual activities against their will. While domestic violence is mostly reported by women, it can affect people regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. With the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reporting that more than 10 million Americans are victims of domestic violence a year, American Addiction Centers wants to convey the message that it’s critical victims can find the treatment and the justice they deserve.
Addiction in the form of substance abuse is extremely common amongst those who have experienced the trauma of domestic abuse. Substance abuse is often triggered by domestic violence. In other instances, people enter relationships that are violent because of a shared reliance on illicit substances. While neither domestic violence or substance abuse guarantees that the individual will experience the other symptom, they are commonly interconnected and the conjoining of the two issues can wreak havoc on a person’s wellbeing.
It’s important to understand the definition of domestic violence as many victims may make excuses for their partners whether it be because of denial, embarrassment, or love for the other person. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines it as the willful intimidation, assault, battery, or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control, perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. While domestic violence most commonly occurs amongst romantic couples, it can also occur between family members or roommates.
Those who commit acts of domestic violence are usually seeking a way to establish dominance or control. Perpetrators often have an internal voice that is stoking the flames of anger by saying that the other person is disrespecting them in some way. Acts of domestic violence are obviously extremely unhealthy and show some sort of deep psychological distress. These psychological issues are compounded when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The substance is often leveraged as an excuse for why the act of domestic violence occurred, but there is no excuse for committing an act of domestic abuse against another innocent person. When those under the influence of an illicit substance commit an abusive act, they often set off a chain reaction of substance abuse. As the victim will look to drugs or alcohol to alleviate the mental or physical distress they are under.
Domestic violence victims who are turning to drugs or alcohol to numb their pain will typically need professional help to break free from the cycle. Hope is pivotal to recovery from both addiction and domestic abuse. There must be a belief that a better tomorrow is possible. American Addiction Centers has a history of helping victims of domestic abuse realize that alcohol and drugs are just temporary fixes to a much larger problem. Substance abuse only compounds these problems in the long run. American Addiction Centers provides experts who provide treatment that helps rebuild a person in all phases of their life. Victims of domestic abuse will have their confidence shattered. Unlocking a better tomorrow often starts with reestablishing a sense of self-worth in the victim.
Anyone with a loved one who is suffering from substance abuse or is being victimized by domestic violence should know that help is out there. Being a supportive friend who informs victims of outlets like American Addiction Centers provides a great service to their loved one. This information is hope that a better tomorrow could be on the horizon.
